light headedness after cataract surgery

[buddie88]

I had cataract surgery in June and August of this year, 2009. About 2 weeks after the August surgery I have become light headed with for no apparent reasons since I am in excellent health, exercising more than enough on a daily basis, excellent appetite, all heath numbers in order. I have been to my Dr several times and had all the blood tests, 24 hr urine tests, and the heart is fine. It happens at any time and usually lasts for 15 minutes or so and I will get flushed usually and then it is gone. There are no other symptoms such as headaches or anything else. I am a 69 year old male that has always maintained a good exercise program and diet, mostly whole food  and plant based.

Since this has been going on the for the past 4 months I was wondering it there could be any possible connection to the cataract surgery of my right eye since the condition started occurring about 2 weeks after the surgery. The results of the surgery were more than what I expected and have no other complications regarding the surgery.

Thank you.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

If your problem was due to cataract surgery I would expect you to be dizzy orlight headed all the time (due to causes like double vision, unequal refractive error, different image sizes, etc).

So its most likely NOT due to your surgery based on intermittent basis. Discuss with your surgeon


JCHMD

[Julee711]

I can relate to "buddies88" problem!  Since I had catarach surgery (both eyes) in September of 2009, I have had ongoing problems.  I have found that my symtoms are difficult to explain because I have never experienced anything like this before.  EVERY MORNING within a short time of being "up and around", I begin to feel like I am sleep deprived and have been up for 48 hours, with trouble concentrating and focusing.  It is like I am walking in my sleep and/or can't get completely awake.  My biggest problem (with my own lenses) was difficulty with night vision and driving.  IT is no better now and seems to be even worse than it was prior to surgery.  My eyes feel heavy and tired and I feel like I would like to close them.  Twice last week, while driving..... in the day time, I found myself in the oncoming lane!!!!!  

[buddie88]

I have worked through my personal physician and cardiologists with thorough diagnoses with above normal good results as I mentioned in my opening note. That is the reason I went back to the timing of when this condition began, 2 wks after the rt eye surgery and thought there might be someone else that has experienced this. Apparently not. My personal phyisician has said he has no more ideas of what it could be. I do understand that since it is such a generic condition with no other apparent causes....just hoping someone might have an idea.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

In that instance I would work though the causes of light headedness with your personal physician.  It can be lots of things related to heart, brain, middle ear, blood pressure, blood sugar, etc

JCH MD

[buddie88]

I did and she did not believe there was any cause and effect here and she is unaware of these side effects. I believe you did mean my catarcact surgeon.